(2) 2 1/2 Gold Indians.........anybody know how to remove solder?

SUMORADA

These were in jewelry I assume, Looks like lead solder, opinions?

rhedden

There is most probably some kind of acid that will dissolve the lead-based solder and not touch the gold. The question is, would you want to handle anything that corrosive? Another question to consider would be if a strong acid bath will pit or etch the coin due to removing some of the 10% copper from the coinage alloy. Any inorganic chemists on here today?

Animalkeeper

I do not think that is solder from jeweler. I make jewelry as a hobby (gold and silver) and I'd expect a real jeweler to use gold solder and only a very small amount. That is either not lead solder or if it is, it's from a real amateur job.......

Whatever you do don't use heat to remove it - it'll run all over...... I think an acid bath would be ideal.

BECOKA

I have seen professionals remove this kind of thing with pretty good results. Not sure how they did it though. Definitely worth a couple dollars to make them look more collectable.

Hyperion

2 words: pocket piece!

drwstr123

I had a link to someone who does this professionally. I'll look for it. Mike

Sunnywood

The question is whether the solder one of the usual tin/lead alloys (such as 65% Sn / 35% Pb), or whether it is a tin/silver solder (97% Sn / 3% Ag), or whether it is a higher-temperature silver braze alloy, which would be much harder to remove.

Based on the color in the photo, I am betting it is a tin/lead alloy, which would have a melting point of about 360°F. I don't know if you want to risk this, but if you heated the coin on a hot plate to a temperature of about 380°F, it would probably be possible to remove the solder without harming the coin.

Remember though, that even if you could remove all the solder, you may find an unattractive patch underneath, depending on how the soldering was done, and at what temperature. There may be an area where the gold-copper alloy of the coin has interacted (i.e. melted) together with the solder. However, that is fairly unlikely unless a jeweler's torch (rather than a soldering iron) was used to do this in the first place.

If it were mine, I'd probably try the hot plate routine. I would put a clean thin smooth ceramic tile, or a sheet of aluminum on the hot plate, then put the coin on it with the solder facing down. A suitable pair of tweezers or tongs would be helpful, especially if the tips were covered in soft silicone rubber. But then, I love being an amateur lab rat.

Best,
Sunnywood

brogine

Best of luck . . . keep us posted.

GAT

You can purchase desoldering braid at Radio Shack and with a soldering iron remove most but not all of the solder. The braid absorbs the solder. I know of no method that will remove it all.

SUMORADA

You can purchase desoldering braid at Radio Shack and with a soldering iron remove most but not all of the solder. The braid absorbs the solder. I know of no method that will remove it all.

I think I will try this............................I'll keep you posted.........

BECOKA

No matter what you try, worst case the coins have been polished and there is already some damage to the coins so if there is some minor damage the coins will still look similar after the removal attempts.

SUMORADA

I agree, tried the "radio shack" ribbon stuff. no good............I am a jeweler so I think I'll make a couple pendants or a pair of cuff-links out of them......its a shame that these were de-faced, or whatever you call it....................I like the indians..

EagleEye

Additionally, I would bet the coins are fake.

dcamp78

Yes, an adjustable heat soldering iron and some solder wick.
If you don't have experience with soldering, find someone that does.
Much of the solder can be removed using a Sold-a-pult tool,
then the rest would be removed using the solder wick.

jmski52

When you attempt to remove the solder, you might want to add some flux when you are trying to absorb it.

BECOKA

<< <i>Additionally, I would bet the coins are fake. >>



I figured I would not mention that since they are so far gone anyway they are worth about the same as real ones in the same condition at this point.

tahoe98

<< <i>I have seen professionals remove this kind of thing with pretty good results. Not sure how they did it though. Definitely worth a couple dollars to make them look more collectable. >>

SUMORADA

Additionally, I would bet the coins are fake.

how can I tell for sure .............if they are I'll scrap um.

BECOKA

<< <i>Additionally, I would bet the coins are fake.

how can I tell for sure .............if they are I'll scrap um. >>



The best way is to take them to your local dealer as seeing them in hand is the best way. There are several gold counterfeit detection books available that can help as well. (Do a search on Amazon for god counterfeit.

The color looks a bit off (could be the lighting), The head dress is a bit too shallow (based on photo). With this much polishing and wear it will be difficult at first to identify without experience. My local dealer has a whole bin full of fakes and when it is full he just melts them into gold bars.

There is no reason for you to get rid of yours if you like the design as they most likely have the same gold content the value remains the same, the mixture may be slightly different which gives them the odd color.

PerryHall

<< <i>Additionally, I would bet the coins are fake. >>



In that condition, even a real coin would be impossible to properly authenticate.